Homework Tips for Parents Ways to help you help your child Miller Elementary September 2016

Does this sound familiar? You do more of the homework than your child The first time you hear about a major project is the night before…and they haven’t started it yet! Your child says they can do homework, play Xbox, watch youtube, watch tv, and listen to music…at the same time! “I don’t have homework tonight!”

How will I know what my child has for homework? It is important to check your child’s agenda EVERY NIGHT! It contains information not only about homework but other assignment and upcoming projects.

Help your child get organized Provide a regular place for homework Always in the same location Quiet Comfortable Well lit Proper materials(pencils, paper, books, etc.) No t.v. or electronics nearby

Help your child get organized, continued… Provide a regular or set time for homework As soon as they get home, after a small snack After dinner (give time to wind down, but start early enough to not finish past bedtime) Use a timer to indicate that it’s time to start homework

Your role…. Be positive about homework Be a role model (when they read, you read) When they ask for help, provide guidance not answers Work with your child’s teacher & stay informed Check your child’s agenda every night (And Wednesday folders every Wednesday)

Pre – K Tips… Read to your child every night Practice writing and drawing Teach them independence (give them a job ex. unload dishwasher, feed dog) Practice letter & number identification and counting Keep in contact with your child’s teacher Teach them to listen and follow directions

Kindergarten Tips… Have your child read at least 10 minutes every night and ask questions about the book Practice sight words, letter recognition and the sounds they make Practice writing their name with upper & lower case letters Practice writing letters neatly and correctly Practice identifying and writing numbers out of order and naming shapes Check the agenda every night for important information Stay in contact with your child’s teacher

First Grade Tips…. Check the homework notebook and agenda everyday. It contains sight word lists, homework suggestions, addition/subtraction facts and strategies and so much more! Homework is sent home every Friday and due the following Friday to give families time for completion Read with your child every night and sign the reading log. Return the bag with all the books to school each day.(Beginning in September). Use bookmark of reading questions to ask student after reading Practice sight words every night and sign homework log Practice counting and writing to 120. Students should complete 4 activities from the spelling choice board weekly Keep in contact with your child’s teacher

Second Grade Tips…. Read every night for at least 10 minutes Practice fluency passages with student nightly Use comprehension questions after reading Sign up for Class Dojo (ask your child’s teacher for login information) Visit the helpful websites on the handout Practice the addition and subtraction strategies shown on the handout Check the monthly class newsletter for what your child is learning Keep in contact with your child’s teacher

Third Grade Tips…. Encourage your child to read at least 10 – 15 minutes every night (but they can do more) Have them retell the story or write a short summary in their reading notebook and use the comprehension questions nightly Practice fluency passages/poems nightly Practice writing using the writing checklist Math and ELA homework will be given every Monday (homework is checked on Friday) Let the teacher know if there is something that you don’t understand

Fourth Grade Tips…. Read a minimum of 20 minutes each day Practice reading passages and comprehension questions daily Practice fluency passages daily Use writing checklist to help student with writing correctly Study math facts and spelling words for any upcoming tests Each week check for the math and grammar spiral review and the spelling choice board Keep in contact with your child’s teacher

Fifth Grade Tips…. Read at least 20 minutes every night Encourage independence Listen to students read each night and record on reading log Review writing sample to help student with writing Create a place value chart that ranges from thousandths all the way up to millions (if in doubt draw a model) Websites such as study jam and Khan Academy Read and study over notes every night (don’t wait till it’s time to take a test) Talk to the teacher about anything you don’t understand

In summary…

References U.S. Department of Education Office of Intergovernmental & Interagency Affairs, Educational Partnerships & Family Involvement Unit, Homework Tips for Parents, Washington, D.C. (2003) Miller Elementary Grade Level Teachers (2016)

Don’t forget to visit our Parent Resource Center (Room 404) anytime you are at Miller!

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